Violinist Inés Voglar Belgique of the Oregon Symphony is a core member of Portland’s FearNoMusic. As Artistic Director from 2005-2011, Inés collaborated with internationally acclaimed composers and presented the great composers of Oregon and the Pacific Northwest.

“We grew up in the orchestra,” says Inés of her early music education in the Carabobo Youth Orchestra in her native Venezuela. “It is how we all learned to play our instruments.” But when the Boston Symphony came to Caracas and performed Mahler’s Symphony No. 1, she was already at university studying chemical engineering. She took a scholarship to come to the United States and earned music degrees from Duquesne University and Carnegie Mellon University, studying with Roberto Valdes and Andrés Cárdenes.

Inés’ interest in contemporary music led her to join the Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble. She has premiered many works, including a solo piece, Chameleon, written for her by American composer David Stock in 2001

In 2002, Ms. Voglar was selected as one of the Concertmasters for the UBS Verbier Festival Youth Orchestra, touring and working under the batons of James Levine, M. Rostropovich, Paavo Jarvi, Bobby McFerrin and Kurt Masur. Prior to her arrival in Portland, she performed with the Pittsburgh Symphony for two seasons, appearing as a soloist with that orchestra. She has appeared at the Latin American Violin Festival, the Western Slope Summer Music Festival, and with the National Repertory Orchestra, where she served as concertmaster and appeared as a soloist.

Currently, Inés is on the faculty of the Interlochen Adult Chamber Music Camp and Portland Summer Ensembles and serves as concertmaster of the Astoria Music Festival Orchestra. She now enjoys her time with her very young son, and regularly performs chamber music around Portland and Oregon.